P. K. Hallinan

A Love Letter from God by P.K. Hallinan tells a child of God's incredible and steadfast love for them in brief rhyming verse. Written as if a personal message from God, the words portray, for the most part, how the Bible speaks of His care for them. I question, though, one opening sentence (To Me, you are perfect, in every way). Precious perhaps but not "perfect." Regardless, the illustrations are playful, creative, and colorful. All in all, it is a book that kids will likely want to hear show more and see over and over again, as well as make a lasting impression about God's love for them. show less

Childhood obesity is a overwhelming problem facing our youth today. To end this, we need to educate children on what to do and how to eat to become physically fit. This book focuses solely on these two things. Written in rhyme, the text is catchy and engaging. It addresses that in order to be physically fit, one must exercise, eat right, and spend time playing outside. These three things are important for kids to know. Therefore, I would read this book to my class if younger. However, I show more think if they are a bit older, I would need to find a book that delivers the same message on a higher level. show less

Hallinan's series of board books about different family members is an easy choice for read alouds. With the sweet and comic-like illustrations, the simple rhyming text, and the emphasis on important family relationships, they fill an important need for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning about the people in their lives. This book is all about dads. The types of activities a dad might do with his children, for instance telling tall tales or playing music, and the important lessons he show more can teach, like learning about faith and helping others. Most importantly, the story shows the love a dad feels for his children. I only wish the author and illustrator had chosen to present a variety of families, rather than focusing on one (white) family. This book works for my girls, but I can see how children of different ethnicities would feel left out. On the other hand, I have the feeling that the writer was using his personal family as inspiration, so I understand the choice, but I think the book would benefit from featuring children and dads from various backgrounds. Nonetheless, a cute story that is easy to read and listen to, and that dwells on the relationship between a dad and his children, a sometimes overlooked topic in children's literature. show less

I really enjoyed reading this book and I think it would serve as a great tool in the classroom to show students that we should accept each other and treat everyone with kindness. The first reason I liked this book is because of the rhyming aspect, which is appropriate for the book’s target audience of kindergarten through second grade. The rhyming makes it not only fun to read, but fun for the children listening. An example from the book is, “So reach out with love to the people you show more meet, and offer a smile to all those you greet.” Rhyming also helps present the informational and thoughtful content of the book in an engaging way. The second reason I liked this book is because of the bright illustrations. Many vivid colors appear on each page, engaging the reader in the illustrations. This is important because the illustrations depict children of all different races, abilities, personalities, and appearances who are friends. The illustrations give the reader a visual of what types of differences they could encounter. The main idea of this book is that friendship is very valuable, and that we need to accept and love one another, regardless of differences. show less